Quick-opening valve



y 1953 'B. c. CHRISTENSEN 2,644,486

QUICK-OPENING VALVE Filed A 28, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 1 lnnentor (Ittorneg S y 3 B. c. CHRISTENSEN 2,

QUICK-OPENING VALVE Filed Aug. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jig. a.

25 I I 42 INVENTOR. I 43 Byron C C/rr/sfensen Arrow/15mv the line '5 of Fig. 3.

Patented July 7, 1953 s PATENT OFFICE QUICK- ()PENING VALVE Oklahoma City, Okla.) as quipment Mfg. 00., Okla- Byron. C. Christensen,

signer to Drilling E homa City,

Okla., a corporatiohofOklahom'a Application August 28, 1948, Serial No. 46.567

'7 Claims. (Cl. 137-704) Thisiinventionrelates, to a valve of the type used in relieving fluidpressure in closed pressure systems, for example, the circulatory system' throughawhich a drilling fluid is circulated under pressureof a slush pump as in the rotary drilling of' wells.

I The principalobjects. of the invention are. to provide. a simple" valve construction which permits rapid. and; convenient opening under high pressure conditions without incurring danger and possibleinjury to the operator; to provide a valve with positive means for sealing the fluid under-the abnormal pressure conditions encountered in such. systems; to provide a valve structure which does not require adjustment of the ease of, operation as well as assuring complete and uneffected seal during operation under varied pressure conditions; to provide a valve structure which is not subject to erosion and cutting ordinarily caused by leakage by high velocity abrasive fluid; to providea valve structure wherein the lever arm assembly mayzbe conveniently positioned in anyradial direction withrespect to the axis of the valve for most convenient position of the operating lever without necessitating alteration in piping hookups; and'to provide an automatic release of the lever when fluid flow acts to thrust theval've into fully open position during the time the-valving member is being opened by the lever. Other objects of the invention are to provide fa" simplified valve structure and operating'linkage; to provide a construction which permits convenient removal and replacement of the valve parts; and to provide a valve having a full unrestricted flow when the valving member is in open position.

v In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, 'the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a quick-opening valve constructed in accordance with the'present invention. a

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the valve showing the valve closed.

Fig; 3 is a vertical section taken at right angles to the section illustrated in Fig. 2 and showing thevalve open.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve showing the lever swivelled to a different position relatively to the valve outlet. I

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the lever on Fig. 6- is a cross the line 6-.--& of

section. on

Fig- 3a valve linkage, thereby'promoting convenience and 2 Fig. '7 is across; section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to, the drawings:

l designatesa quick opening valve constructed in-accordance with the present invention and which is adapted for use in relieving fluid pressure in closed pressure systems; for example, the circulatory system through which a drilling 'fluid is circulated by means of a mud of slush pump in rotary drilling rigs, the valve being used for releasing ypressure-in caseof a plugged bit, blowout, pulling of the drill pipe or Whenever quick release of pressure is,- desired.

The valve includes a T-shapedbodymember 2having a cylindrical main portion 3 and a lat eral branch 4. The branch 4; is internally threaded as at 51-or otherwise fitted, to connect with the pressure-relief side 'of the pressuresystem and the lower end of the tubular body is counterbored and internally threaded as at 6 to connect with a seat member 1. The axial bore 8 of they cylindrical portion 3 extends upwardly in intersection with the bore 9 in the lateral branch 4 in forming a chamber Hi into which a valving member H is adapted to be retracted when the valving member is in open position. Above the chamber ill the bore continues in smaller diameter to provide an annular shoulder [2 on the respective, sides of counter.- bores I3 and I4. The upper end of the body portion 3 is of reduced diameter to provide. a neck IE on which the valve bonnet or head [6 ismounted as later described. Thev neck thus forms an annular shoulder ll with the. valve body and formed inthe neckportionjust above the shoulder is. an annular groove I8 to form a smaller upper shoulder [9 in facing relation with the shoulder IT. The member 1 comprises a cylindricalbody substantially conforming to the exterior diameter of the body portion3 of the valve and has a reduced threaded neck 20 adapted. to engage the thread 6 when the neck is turnedthereinto to seat an annular shoulder 2-iyon: the seat, member against the end face 22 oounterbore 24 to facilitate entrance of the valvingxmemberaslater described. The opposite end of the seat member is counterbored. and internally threaded as'indicated at 25 for connection with the pressure side of the system inwh'ich the valve. is installed.

.The bonnet or head I6 is formedvoi two sections 26 and ill cooperating to provide a ring- I of the valve body. The ring-like base portion 23 has upper and lower flanges 29 and 38 adapted to respectively engage within the groove 18 and over the upper end of the neck I5. The sections are secured together in encircling relation with the neck I5 by bolts 3! which extend through ears 32 on the respective sections. Each section also includes an upwardly extending arm 33 and 34 located on opposite sides of the ringlike base portion and which converge inwardly at their upper ends to provide terminals 35 and 33 on which the valve operating lever is pivotally mounted as later described.

Reciprocably and rotatably mounted within the neck portion of the valve body is a rod-like valve stem 31 having a sliding seal with respect to the valve body by packing rings 38 inserted within the counterbore l4 and retained in sealing relation with respect to the valve stem by a bushing or packing gland 39, the bushing or packing gland being threaded within the open end of the counterbore as indicated at 40. Seated in the counterbore l3 and suitably secured therein is a resilient ring 4! which also serves as a bumper for cushioning opening movement of the valving member II.

The valving member H is of piston shape and preferably formed of resilient material having an outer circumferential face 42 substantially conforming with the diameter of the bore 23 to close flow therethrough when the valving member is in closed position (Fig. 2). The pistonlike valving member is threaded onto a reduced threaded extension 43 and seats against a looking collar 44 that is also threaded on the valve stem as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The collar is preferably of larger diameter than the diam- "through a registering opening in the link. The opposite end of the link is connected by "a pin 5| with a cam head 52.

The cam head is in the form of a quadrant with the radial side carrying the pin 5|, provided with a slot 53 to accommodate the link 47 when the parts are in valve open position shown in Fig. 3. The axial center of the quadrant has openings 54 and 55 receiving trunnion terminals 56 and 51 of trunnion screws 58 and 59 which screws are threaded into openings 60 and SI of the arms 33 and 34. The terminals 56 and 51 thus form pivots on which the cam head 52 is adapted to turn when the valve is moved to and from closing position as later described.

In order to provide support for a yoke 63 of an operating lever 64, the outer ends of the trunnion screws have enlarged bearing portions 65 and 66 which project from the outer sides of r the arms 33 and 34 to engage in bearing openings 61 and 68 of arms 69 and 10 of the lever yoke 83.

To facilitate insertion of the trunnion screws 58 and 59, the outer ends are provided with polygonal-shaped heads 59'. r

In order to provide a safety connection between the' yoke 63 of the operating lever 64 and the cam head 52, the lever 64 is provided with 'a' latch ii that is adapted to be selectively operated to swing the cam head to and from opening and closing position and which is adapted to effect release of the lever in case the cam head should be moved by the pressure faster than the lever is moved by the operator.

In carrying out this feature of the invention, the lever has an axial bore 12 extending therethrough and which terminates at the yoke and in a counterbore 13 that forms an annular shoulder 14 to seat a spring 15. Rotatably mounted in the bore 12 is a rod 16 that projects into the counterbore and is provided with a head or flange H to close the outer end thereof and carry the latch H. The spring 15 is sleeved about the rod 16 and has one end engaging against the shoulder 14 and its opposite end engaging against the flange ll to keep the latch in contact with the cam head and within a notch 18 as shown in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the rod projects from the lever and carries a cap 19 which when the latch H is in engagement with the notch 18 abuts against the end face of the lever. Extending radially from the rod is a pin 81 that engages in one or the other of diametrically opposed grooves 82 and 83 that are provided in the abutting end face 80 of the lever whereby the latch may be held in its respective positions when the cap is pulled outwardly and turned to engage the pin 81 with the end face 80. The latch includes a flat tongue-like extension having a straight face 84 on one side and a bevelled face 85 on the other which are adapted to face the sides 86 or 8'! of the notch 18.

In using a quick-opening valve assembled and constructed as described, it is mounted in the pressure system at a point where the lever 64 is in convenient reach of the driller with the port or seat member I connected into the pressure side of the system and the lateral branch 4 to the pressure relief side of the system. After connection of the body portion 3 of the valve body member 2, the lever 64 may be adjusted to the desired working directions (compare Figs. 1 and 4) by loosening the bolts 3i so that the ring-like base portion 28 of the bonnet or head I6 may be turned on the neck l5 to bring the operating lever 64 into desired operating plane. This adjustment is possible because the valving member and valve stem are free to rotate as a. unit in the valve body. The bolts 3| are then tightened to clamp the sections of the bonnet or head [6 about the neck 15 whereupon the bonnet or head is prevented from turning on the body of the valve to move the lever out of its adjusted position.

Assuming that the valving member II is open as shown in Fig. 3, it is retracted within the chamber I8 giving flow through the bore 9 of the branch 4. In this position of the valving member the link 4'! is in the groove or slot 53 of the cam head 52 and the cam head is extending laterally from one side of the valve body. In this position the sector-shaped cam is in its uppermost position and supports the valve stem and valving member. The lever 54 may have been released from the cam head-or the flat face 84 of the latch ll may have been left in contact with the side 8'! of the notch 18, in which case the cap 19 of the lever is pulled outwardly against action of the spring 15 to free the pin 8| from the notch 82 (Fig. 3) and permit rotation of the cap 19 and latch ll. When the cap 19 has been turned the pin 8! will then register with and drop into the notch 83 which allows the latch to again enter the notch 18 but this time the fiat face 84 of the latch H is engaging the side 86 of the notch. The valve may then be moved to closed position b'yfswinging'the lever arm' clockwise (Fig: 3)" upwardly and across top dead center with the cam head 52 swinging on the terminals-'54 and 55 of the trunnion screws 58' and ES'and the yoke arms 69' and it pivoting about the bearing portions 65 and 56; This movement of the cam head carries thepin 5i acrossthe top dead center to apply a downward force onthe link t"? and move the valve stem STdbwnwardly through the packing gland 39 until the valvingmember H enters the cylindrical valvev seat or bore 23' whereupon the levertll'is positioned at the opposite side of the valve body as shown in Fig. 1'. The axes of the pins are again in substantially vertical alignment with the axes. of the trunnion terminals but the pin 51 has passed "slightly off dead center positionto lock the valve inv closing relation with the valve seat. a

' Whenthe valving member has passed into the bore or seat 23, the valve is closed and pressure is maintained within the system. The pressure acting against the valving member from theunderside forces the sides thereof into scaling relation with the cylindrical valve seat.

there is no danger of a partly uns'eated valve that maycause leakage and result in subsequent damage by erosion of leaking'fluid passing between the valve and its seating surface.

This structure isalso important as no adjustment is required between'thevalve stem and actuating lever to maintain an effective closure. It is'also obvious that any Wear on the moving mechanism is of no consequence.

When it is desired to relieve the pressure, th cap 19 on the end of the operating lever 64 is turned to bring the pin 8i into engagement with the opposite notch 82 so that the flat side of the latch ii engages the side face 84 of the notch 18.

lever may then be swung to lift'the valving member out of the seat or bore 23 and into its retractive position within the chamber It, leaving a full unrestrictedfiow of the fluid through the body of the valve. I

Since the valve is being opened with the aid of the pressure acting onthe bottom of the valving member H the pressure, may tend to operate the cam head faster than it i's'being moved by the lever, but this will have no effect on the lever because side 85 of the notch 18 is hearing againstthe lever 85 to effect disengagement of the latch.

The cam head is then free to snap overwithout jerking the lever or injuring the operator.

When it becomes necessary to replace the valving member for inspection or replacement, the

valve body member is disconnected from the pressure system and the seat member 1 is unthreaded from the part 2. After removal of and loosening of the packing 38, the stem and valving member assembly are readily withdrawn through the bore 8.

From the foregoing it is obviousthat I have provided a quick-opening valve of the reciprocating stem type which is quickly and easily operated under high pressure conditions without incurring danger and possible injury due to loss of control in operating the valving member. It is also obvious that I have provided a simple and efiicient seal of the valving member and which requires no adjustment of the working parts in maintain- 6 ing-such seal. It is further obvious that. theposition of the operating leveris readily changed without requiring a change in the piping system when the valve is to be installed in an ex:- isting piping system.

What I claim and desire to secure Patent is:

1. In a valve of the character described. ineluding a valve body, a valving member reciprorcable within the valve body, a valve stem connected with the valving memberandextending coaxially through the valvebody, and a valve "bonnet connected with the valve body, a valve operating means including an operating lever pivotally connected with the valve bonnet, a latch engaging member pivoted to swing with'the operating lever and having a latch engaging portion, a link connecting the valve stem with said latch engaging member, a rod reciprocably andoscillatably supported in the operating lever, a latch on said rod having oppositely positioned straight and bevelled faces adapted to engage said latch l engaging portion of the latch engaging member, a cap forming an extension of the operatingv lever and connected with said rod for. turning the rod to position the latch in engagement'with said latch engaging'portion, a spring carried by the operating lever and normally retaining the latch in engagement with said latch engaging portion, and cam means on the 'cap and engaging cam portions on the lever for retracting the latch'against action of said spring and forretaining the latch faces in selected positions with respect to the latch engaging portion.

2. Ina valve having a valve body, a valve stem extending coaxially from an. end of the valve body, and a valve bonnet connected with the end of the valve body having the projecting end of the valve stem, operating means for the valve stem including an operating lever pivotally connected to the valve bonnet, a latch engaging member adapted to swing with the operating lever and having a latch engaging portion, a link connecting the valve stem with saidlatch latably supported in the operating lever, a latch I on. said rod having oppositely positioned. straight and bevelled faces adapted to engage saidlatch engaging portion of the latch engaging'm'ember, a cap forming an extension of the operating lever and connected with said rod for turning the rod to position the latch in engagement with said latch engaging portion, a spring carried by the operating lever and normally retainingthe latch in engagement with the latch engaging portion, and cam means on the cap and engaging cam portions 0n the lever for retracting the latch against action of said spring, and for retainingthe latch faces in selected positions with respect to'the latch engaging portions.

3. In avalve of the character described ineluding a valve body having a reduced neck portion provided with an annular groove, and a valvin member rotatably movable Within the valve body, means for operating the valving member including a stem connected with the valving member and extending through said neck portion, a bonnet on the valve body comprising mating sections forming a split ring encircling said neck portion and having an annular flange engaging in said groove and having diametrically opposed arms, trunnions carried by the arms, a sector-shaped cam pivoted on the trunnions, a link connecting the sector-shaped by Letters,

cam with the valve stem, a yoke pivotally connected with the arms coaxially of the trunnions, a lever projecting from the yoke, a latch carried by the lever and engageable with the sectorshaped cam to connect the lever with said cam, said clamping sections being turnable about the neck portion without disconnecting said link and means for clamping said sections about said neck to retain the lever in a fixed operating plane.

4. In a valve of the type including a valve body member having an axial inlet and a lateral outlet, a cylindrical valve member reciprocable into and from a cylindrical valve seat coaxially with the inlet and intermediate said inlet and outlet and a valve bonnet connected with the valve body and including upwardly extending rigid arms, an actuatin mechanism for the valving member including a valve stem connected with the valving member and extending through the valve bonnet, an operating lever, means pivotally coni necting the operating lever with said rigid arms of the valve bonnet on a transverse axis, a latch engaging member pivoted to swing on the transverse axis, a link connecting the valve stem with said latch engaging member, and a latch carried by the operating lever and adapted to latch With said engagingmember to connect the operatin lever for operating the valving member when the operating lever is pivoted from one side of the valve axis to the other.

5. In a valve of the type including a valve "body member having an axial inlet and a lateral outlet, a cylindrical valve member reciprocable into and from a cylindrical valve seat coaxially with the inlet and intermediate said inlet and outlet and a valve bonnet connected with the valve body and including upwardly extending rigid arms, an actuating mechanism for the valving member including a stem connected with the valving member and extending through the valve bonnet, an operating lever, means pivotally connecting the operating lever with the rigid arms of the valve bonnet on a transverse axis, a latch engagin member pivoted to swing on the transverse axis, a' link connecting the valve stem with said latch engaging member, a latch carried by the operating lever and adapted to latch with said engaging member to connect the operating lever for operating the valving member when the operating lever is pivoted from one side of the valve axis to the other, said valve bonnet being swivelly connected with the valve body to turn with the valve stem and valving member, and means for clamping the valve bonnet to the valve body for retaining the lever in a desired operating plane relatively to said outlet.

6. In a valve of the type including a valve body member havin an axial inlet and a lateral outlet, a cylindrical valve member reciprocable into and from a cylindrical valve seat coaxially with the inlet and intermediate said inlet and outlet and a valve bonnet connected with the valve body, an actuating mechanism for the valving member including a stem connected with the valving member and extending through the valve bonnet, diametrically spaced apart arms extending from the valving membe in parallel relation with the stem being reciprocable therebetween, means for mounting the arms rigidly on the valve body in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve member, trunnions carried by the arms, a sector-shaped cam pivoted on the trunnions, a link connecting the sector-shaped cam with the valve stem, a yoke pivotally connected with the arms coaxially of the trunnions, a lever projecting from the yoke, and a latch carried by the lever and engageable with the sector-shaped cam to connect the lever with said cam.

7. In a valve of the type including a valve body member having an axial inlet and a lateral outlet, a cylindrical valve member reciprocable into and from a cylindrical valve seat coaxially with the inlet and intermediate said inlet and outlet and a valve bonnet connected with the valve body, an actuating mechanism for the valving member includin a valve stem connected with the valving member and extending through the valve bonnet, packing means carried by the valve body in sealing engagement with the valve stem, diametrically spaced apart arms extending from the valving member in parallel relation with the stem being reciprocable therebetween, means for mounting the arms rigidly on the valve body in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve member, trunnions carried by the arms, a sectorshaped cam head on the trunnions, a link connecting the sector-shaped cam with the valve stem, a yoke pivotally connected with the arms coaxially of the trunnions, a lever projecting from the yoke, a latch for connecting the cam head with the lever on differential movement of the valve member under pressure when the valve member is being moved by the lever, and a cushioning ring carried by the valve body in the path of the valve member to cushion the valve member upon said release of the lever.

BYRON C. CHRISTENSEN.

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